Recording device.



R. c. BRADLEY'.-

RECORDING' DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-15,1916. ,i 1,255,698, P eeented Feb. 5,1918.

Iunirsi) STATES'i PATENT onirica.

RICHARD C. BRADLEY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, .ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO O. FRANK IRELAND, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

RECORDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

Application led October 16. 1916. Serial No. 125,933.

To all whom z't may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD C. BRADLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recording De-x vices, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in recording devices, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a recording devicepin which apparatus for printing various data is housed in a small compass.

A further object of my invention is to f provide a recording device which has apparatus that readily shifted to record different data under different conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a recording device which is comined with a printing mechanism in such a manner that a permanent record of a transaction may be made accurately and quickly.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a section of the device on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 isa section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

ign 4 is a perspective view showing parts of the apparatus taken apart but in'their relative positions.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of a portion of the apparatus.A

In carrying out my'invent'ion I provide a casingl of any suitable material. "Within this casing is a reel 2 which is designed;A to contain a rollv of liexibleJmaterlal such' as a strip of paper 3. This strip passes around a guide member4 and ovel a platen 5. At the end ofthe platen on the shaft 6 is a gear 7 (see Fig. 3). Carried by a bracket 8 is a ring bearing 9 which is made 1n two parts held together by bolts, such as those shown in Fig. 3. This ring-bearing supports one end of a drum 10, the opposite end of the drum being journaled min a bearing 9 which is similar to the bearing 9 and which is supported by a bracket 8.

The drum 10 bears at one end a series of gear teeth 11. These teeth, it will be noted from Fig. 3, extend substantially through a quadrant. They are arranged to engage the teeth of the gear 7 in a manner hereinafter explained.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown therein a wheel 12 at the end of a sleeve 13, (see Fig. 2), the opposite end of this sleeve being secured to a wheel 12 bearing the names of the months, set in type for printinggin the manner hereinafter explained. The wheels 14 and 15 bear numbers and are connected by means of the sleeves 16 and 17, with the Wheels 14 and "15' respectively. These wheels have numbers which may be printed. The wheel 1 8 is connected by the shaft 19 with the wheel 18', which is the Wheel bearing the numbers indicating the years, to be printed. These wheels project through the surface of the drum at the point X in Fig. 2.

In 1 a gear 20 is shown mounted on the shaft This gear 2O has .a ball-clutch, shown in Fig. 3, which will cause the turning of the shaft when the gear is revolving counter-clockwise, in Fig. 3. If the shaft 21, however, is revolving in a counter-clockwise direction, then the gear will remain st a tionary. The gear 20 is driven by any sultable means, such as by the gear 22. The shaft 21 bears a gear 23 which is in mesh with the gear 24. A series of number wheels 25 is mounted on a shaft 26 which has a resetting gear 62 secured to it. The gear 24: is secured to the number wheel 25 immediately adjacent to it, which is the lowest denomination and in the present instance is the tenths, the next wheel being the units, the next the tens and the next the hundreds. These wheels are actuated in the usual manner of odometer or counter Wheels.

The Wheel 27 is a number wheel which respond to the keys of any particular person who is using the recording device in order to print the' identification number. This wheel is mounted on the shaft 28 having a groove 29 therein (see Fig. 4). The end of this shaft projects into a sleeve 30 which is carried by a bracket 31 secured to a plate 32 (see Fig. 1). The latter is movable and is provided with a guide post 33 which slides in a boie 34 carried by the drum 10. The sleeve 30 is also provided with a guide key 35 which slides in a slot in the drum 10, so that the plate 32 is prevented from having a rotative movement. A spring 36 bears at one end on the wheel 27 and at the other end on the sleeve 30, so as to normally keep the plate in the position shown in Fig. 1. When, however, the plate is pushed inwardly in the manner hereinafter explained. the shaft 28 which bears the Wheel 27 will be rotated by the engagement of a pin 37 in the slot 29. The distance to which the plate 32 is pushed inwardly determines the amount of rotation of the wheel 27, and the number which is brought into position to be printed.

At 38 l have shown the commodity wheel, which is a cylinder bearing legends such as gasolene, oil No. 1., oil No. 2, etc. This cylinder is mounted on the shaft 39 which is provided with a cam groove 40. A slidable cylinder 41 is provided with a pin 42` so that when the cylinder 41 is pushed inwardly against tlie tension of the spring 43, the wheel 38 is rotated to a position corresponding to the distance the cylinder 41 is displaced inwardly. From Fig. 1 it will be seen that there is a sleeve 44 which passes through the plate 32. The inner end of this sleeve 44 bears a gear 45 which engages with a gear 46 on a shaft 47 (see Fig. 5), the latter being secured to a number wheel 48 indicating minutes. On the interior of the sleeve 44 is a shaft 49 which bears a gear 50 arranged to engage with the gear 51 on a wheel 52, this latter wheel is the hour wheel.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

Let us assume that Jhe device is connected with an oil dispensing means. the operation of which turns the gear 22. The dispensing mechanism forms no part of the present invention. )Ve will further assume that the driver No. 6 of an oil wagon, wishes to sell 10g; gallons of oil No. 1. He first sets the lever 53 to that 'position on the dial 54 corresponding to oil No. 1. whereupon the cam surface of the lever 53 will push a rod 55 inwardly and thus turn the commodity wheel 38 to bring they legend Oil No. 1 in printing position. The driver aow inserts his key 56 in the lock and push.-.` it inwardly as far as it'will thus turning the number wheel 27 to the position in which the figure 6 will be in printing position. It may here be stated that each key is provided with a. shoulder 56x arranged to engage a stop shoulder in the lock to limit its inward movement. The shoulders of the different keys are at dili'erent positions thereby enabling the wheel 27 to be turned to different positions corresponding with the number of the key. The shafts 44 and 49 are connected to any suitable time mechanism and, therefore, these wheels which indicate the time are always correctly set. The date wheels are set manually by bringing 15 and 18 into the position in which .the correct date is read. The wheels 12', 14', 15 and 18 will be set accordingly.

The turning of the key in the lock and the manipulation of other parts on the liguid dispensing device, not shown, sets in motion the gear 22, which through the n iedium of the gear 20 turns the quantity wheels 25 so as to indicate the quantity of liquid dispensed. When the proper quantity is drawn off the gear 57 is operated by any suitable means, such as by a crank. This gear is in mesh with a gear 58 on the drum, and the latter will be rotated. The revolution of the drum will cause the teeth 11 (see Fig. 3) to engage the gear 7 on the shaft 6 of the platen, thereby feeding the ticket strip forwardly. The rotation of the drum will cause the type on the printin wheels to be inked as they pass the ink ro l 59, and printing will be accomplished as they pass the platen successively. It will be observed that the teeth 11 do not extend all the way around the circumference. stated before, they are disposed approximately .over one-fourth of the circumference. This` is sufiicient to draw the ticket forwardly, print it and move it out so that it can be torn off on the knife edge 60. The rotation of the drum after the teeth 11 leave the gear 7, brings the teeth 61 (see Fig. 3), in engagement with the gear 62 on the shaft 26, and the latter is rotated so as to reset the number wheels indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed. The particular mechanism for resetting forms no part of the present invention, being fully set forth in a prior application, Serial No. 56,958, filed in which the number wheels were each provided with a pawl which permitted the rotation of the number wheel in one direction relative to the shaft, but which set back the number wheel by the engagement of the the wheels 12,14, l

pawl by a notch in the shaft when the shaft the commodity Wheel is merely typical of a general shifting means. In actual practice othr means than the lever shown, can be use I have spoken of the fact that the number Wheels Which indicate the quantity of the commodity dispensed,` have figures. which can be read and also figures which are to be printed. The figures Which are to be read appear before a glazed Window disposed in the casing in such position one can see readily the amount registered before the printing operation is effected.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have condensed into small space apparatus giving considerable data for forming a permanent record of al business transaction. Obviously, the apparatus might be changed to accommodate transactions of various kinds, as for instance7 it might be used in connection With the dispensing of tickets at a theater or for other similar uses.

I claim: H

l. In a recording mechanism, a casing, a number Wheel provided With type adapted to print a series of numbers, a shaft for the number Wheel having a cam groove therein, a sleeve provided With a pin arranged to enter the cam groove, a movable plate, means for securing the sleeve to the plate, guide members secured to said plate for guiding the plate in a movement parallel'to the axis of the sleeve, and means for callsing the plate to move to a predetermined distance.

2. In a recording` mechanism, a casing, a number Wheel provided 'with type adapted to print a series of numbers, a shaft for the number Wheel having a cam groove therein, a sleeve provided with a pin arranged to enter the cam groove, a movable plate, means for securing the sleeve to the plate, guide members secured to said plate for guiding the plate in a movement parallel to the axis of the sleeve, means for causing the plate to move to a predetermined distance, said last named means comprising a series of keys each having a shoulder arranged to engage a portion of the plate, the shoulders of the different keys being dispose'l at different distances from the stop flange of the key whereby the plate is moved to corresponding distances. f' f 3. In a recording device, a casing, a drum revolubly disposed Within the casing, an indicating Wheel or drum rotatably mounted on said first named drum, the shaft of the indicating Wheel being grooved, a sleeve provided With a pin arranged to enter the groove, a ring secured to said sleeve, guide means for guiding the movement of the ring in a direction parallel to the axis of the number Wheel, means for moving the ring to cause a longitudinal movement of the sleeve with respect to the shaft of the `ment of said plate, and

number Wheel, a circular v plate disposed Within the ring and movable in a direction parallel to the movement of the ring, a second number Wheel rotated by the movemeans for moving the plate to a predetermined distance.

4. In a recording device, a casing, a drum revolubly disposed Within the casing, an indicating Wheel or drum rotatably mounted on said first named drum, the shaft of the indicating Wheel being grooved, a sleeve provided With a pin arranged to enter the groove, a ring secured to said sleeve, guide means for guiding the movement of the ring in a direction parallel to the axis of the number Wheel, means for moving the ring to cause a longitudinal movement of the sleeve With respect to the shaft of the number Wheel, a circular plate disposed Within the ring and movable in a direction parallel to the movement of the ring, a second number Wheel rotated by the movement of said plate, means for moving the plate to a predetermined distance, said plate beingperforated centrally, a pair of registering 'Wheels carried by the drum, and means extending through the central opening in said plate for operating the registering Wheels.

5. In a recording device, a casing, a drum revolubly disposed Within the casing, an indicating Wheel or drum rotatably mounted on said first named drum, the shaft of the indicating Wheel being grooved, a sleeve provided with a pin arranged to enter the groove, a ring secured to said sleeve, guide means for guiding the movement of the ring in a direction parallel to the aXis of the number Wheel, means for moving the ring to 'cause a longitudinal movement of the sleeve With respect to the shaft of the number Wheel, a circular plate disposed Within the ring and movable in a direction parallel to the movement of the ring, a second number Wheel rotated by the movement of said plate, means for moving the plate to a predetermined distance, said plate being perforated centrally, a pair of registering Wheels carried by the drum, means extending through the central opening in said plate for operating the registering Wheels, said last named means comprising a shaft secured to one Wheel and a sleeve surrounding the shaft secured to the other Wheel, and a time piece having connection With the' shaft and also With the sleeve.

6. A recording device comprising' a casing, a drum revoluble Within the casing and being provided With a plurality of sets of number Wheels each having type thereon for printing data carried by the number Wheels, a platen having a shaft, a gear secured to the platen shaft, a segmental gear carried by said drum and arranged to engage said platen gear for turning the platen,

and means for causing the resetting of certain of said number Wheels during the revolution of the drum.

7. A recording device comprising a casing, a drum revoluble Within the casing and being provided with a plurality of sets of number Wheels each having type thereon for printing data carried by the number Wheels, a platen having a shaft, a gear secured to the platen shaft, a segmental gear carried by said drum and arranged to engage said platen gear for turning the platen, means for causing the resetting of certain of said number Wheels during the revolution of the drum, said last named means comprising a gear on the shaft of the number Wheels to be reset, and a segmental gear carried by the drum and arranged to engage the resetting gear subsequent to the engagement of the platen gear by the gear 20 teeth on the drum.

RICHARD C. BRADLEY. 

